Churn-cover



(No Model.)

M. n. GHAPIN.

GHURN COVER.

Patented May 8,1883.

lilll l l I I HIIIH J Hlllllllllll'l N. PEIERS. vhm-mny sw. Washington. a. c.

thereon.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

. MARCUS D. CHAPlN, OF POULTNEY, VERMONT.

.CHURN-COVER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent .1\ To. 277,001, dated May 8, 1883.

Q Application filed February 14,1883. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern;

Be it known that I, MARCUS D. OHAPIN, of Poultney, county of Rutland, and State of Vermont, have invented certain new and useful Improvementsin Churn-Covers, of which the 'following is a fu1l,clear',- and exact description, reference being hadto the accompanyin g drawings, and to theletters of reference marked My'invention has special relation to means for locking and holding and permitting the ready release or removal of covers of barrelchurns; but, as will be understood from a consideration of the following explanations, my

improvements might also be applied upon or in connection with the covers of other barrels or analogous vessels. a a

Amongjthe principal objects of my invention are the production of a simple, cheap, and easily-operating mechanism for moving the locking-levers, the same being strongand durable in all its parts, easily mounted and disa mounted when required, not liable to become described, and then pointed out in:the claims.

In the accompanyingdrawings,formingp'art of this specification Figure 1 is atop or plan view of a churn-cover having my improved wform of lockingdevice applied thereon, the

coverbeingshown as mounted uponthe ringhead and lockedin place. Fig. 2 is a vertical section upon a plane passing through one of thelocking-arms and showing the ringhead as seated in the top or open mouth of a churn or other barrel. Fig.3 is a side elevation of a the cover in place upon the ring-head. Fig. 4

is a sectionthrough one of the locking-ears,

showing the construction and arrangement In all these figures like letters of reference,

I thereof and the means employed for securing V it in place upon the ring-head.

wherever they occur, indicate corresponding parts. i

Ais the bodyof the churn or other cover, usually made of wood, and intended to cover the opening in a metallic ring-head, B. This ring-head -B is firmly secured in the open mouth or chine O of the barrel or churn. It has not been deemed necessary to represent the wholeof the barrel, inasmuch as the construction and operation of the barrel-churn, to which my improvements are especially applicable, are very well known. c I

l) is a metallic rim applied upon the perimeter of the cover to protect the same, and E represents a cork or other packing-gasket, in-

tended to restupon a narrow head or flange, I

I projecting from the ring-head B. This gas, ket is held in place by the rim D,or it might be otherwise secured in place, so that when the cover is pressed down tightly the gasket planes, the outer ends of the levers projecting beyond the margin of the cover, so as to engage beneath the overhanging ends of the locking-ears upon the ring-head, and secured against displacement, as bythe removable pins or screws a a, passing through the levers. The inner ends of the locking-levers enter openings provided for them in the wall of a centralmovable block, I, mounted and made movable upon the central standard, Gr.

Beneath the block I is a coiled metallic or other suitable spring, K, of sufticientpower to raise the block and the inner ends of the levers to a position in which the levers will unlock from the hooks or ears as soon as pressure upon the upper side OflllG block is released.

L is a nut having a suitable projecting handle applied upon the central standard above the shank for bearing upon the top of the ringthe block I.

From the construction so far indicated it will appear that when the nut L is turned down the block will be depressed against the action of the spring K, carrying with it the inner ends of the locking-levers, and this movement will elevate the outer ends of the levers, bringing them up firmly againstthe under sides of the overhanging hooks or ears. By turning the nut L up on the standard the spring K forces the block Iup, carrying the inner ends of the levers up, thereby lowering their outer ends and releasing them from the hooks or cars. The cover has then only to be turned slightly, so as to bring the projecting ends of the levers out from under the ears, when it may be lifted off from its seat. The block is prevented from turning on the standard by reason of its connection with the levers, which are held against side movement by the screws or pins a a. The block I is preferably made of cast metal. It can be readily lifted off the standard by first removing the nut L, when any one of the levers or locking-arms can be removed and replaced, if desired. The construction obviates all binding or wedging of the levers, makes their locking and unlocking movements certain and easy to the operator, is capable of easy and cheap manufacture, and enables one to mount the device for use with great-facility, obviating much fitting and adjustment of parts heretofore required.

The locking ears or hooks are represented at M. Heretofore in this class of device these ears have been connected directly with the barrel-chine, and they have also been mounted upon the metallic ring-head by casting them directly therewith, or by casting their bases therewith, the upper or hook part being afterward applied. I perforate the ring-head at suitable intervals, and provide each ear or hook with a screw-shank, m, calculated to enter the perforation. This leaves a shoulder all around head and covering the perforation therein. A suitable nut, n, is applied upon the shank and draws the hook firmly down to its seat, holding it securely in the proper position. ,The not n can be removed when required, and any car can be quickly replaced. By use of washers or packing on the shank the height ofthe hook can be readily adjusted without detracting from its stability for the purpose of securing accurate bearings for the locking-levers. The improved means of connecting the hook enable I am aware that vertically-adjustable locking-levers in. this class of covers have heretofore beenIoperated by a cam-block with grooves cut therein toreceive the inner ends of the levers, and of which the margins bear upon the levers as the block is revolved; and I am also aware that the cover of a churn has heretofore been locked by levers made of spring metal. To these old forms I therefore make no claim; but,

Having now fully described my invention, what I claim as new herein, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

l. The vertically-adjustable block mounted upon a central threaded standard, the same being socketed to receive the inner ends of the locking-levers, and provided with a spring below and a nut above to control the movements of said block, substantially in the manner and for the purposes set forth.

2. The combination, with the cover, of the locking-levers pivoted thereon at or near one end, the vertically-adjustable block receiving the inner ends of said levers; and prevented from turning thereby, the central threaded standard secured upon the cover, the spring, and the nut, combined and arranged for operation substantially as shown and described.

3. The combination, with the cover, of the vertically-movinglocking-levers pivoted thereon, the vertically-adj ustable block receiving theinnerends of said levers, the central threaded standard, the spring and out for controlling the movements of the block mounted upon said standard, and the open hooks or ears for receiving the outer ends of the levers mounted upon the ring-head, substan tially as shown and described.

4. The herein-described hook or looking ear, provided with a screw-threaded shank, the

"same being combined with the metallic ringhead, and secured thereon by a removable-nut, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing'[ have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two witnesses.

MARCUS oHAPIN.

Witnesses ALONZO HERRICK, FRED S. PLATT. 

